LEBANON: AS ARAB WORLD REACTS AGAINST ROME ATTACK AND HIJACKING, BEIRUT AIRPORT BLOCKS ITS RUNWAYS TO THWART LANDING.

Record ID: 355407

  • Title: LEBANON: AS ARAB WORLD REACTS AGAINST ROME ATTACK AND HIJACKING, BEIRUT AIRPORT BLOCKS ITS RUNWAYS TO THWART LANDING.
  • Date: 18th December 1973
  • Summary: 1. GV & CU ZOOM OUT TO MV People reading newspapers and newspaper stand (2 shots) 0.10 2. CU Newspaper headline (3 shots) 0.18 3. LV Troops and vehicles on runway at airport 0.21 4. GV & SV Army personnel carrier across tarmac (2) 0.30 5. GV Troops running across tarmac 0.35 6. GV Army vehicle and ambulances across tarmac 0.38
  • Embargoed: 2nd January 1974 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA6KKO35KCBWT2QP2L0ZXCAN3F5
  • Story Text: On Tuesday morning (18th December), the Arab world reacted overwhelmingly and vehemently to news of the Arab guerrilla attack on Rome's Fiumicino Airport in which thirty-one people died.

    Jordan denounced the attack as "a criminal and barbaric act." Algeria condemned the hijacking as "a mad odyssey", and an Egyptian spokesman termed it "tragic, saddening and senseless." Even the Palestine Commando leadership in Beirut, Lebanon, said the hijacking was directed against the interests of the palestinian people.

    Most people in Beirut were disgusted by the guerrilla attack and the newspapers were adamant in their condemnation of the terrorists, whose operation began in Rome, moved to Athens with further threats to hostages. Then Beirut International Airport was closed to all traffic to prevent the Lufthansa Boeing 737 landing there after leaving Athens. The aircraft's Dutch Captain, Joe Kroese, asked for permission to land in Beirut because the 'plane was running short of fuel.

    Troops moved in, blocking runways and clearing all aircraft from the area. The Lebanese Minister of the Interior, Mr. Bahige Takyeddine, supervised the operation as the hijacked airliner circled overhead.

    The Lufthansa 'plane -- with the five hijackers and twelve hostages -- was forced to move on to Damascus to refuel. From there, the aircraft flew on to Kuwait, where -- despite again being refused permission to land -- the hijacked 'plane finally set down on a sand track near the airport, almost out of fuel.

    Tuesday night, the drama was over. The Arab guerrillas released their hostages and were arrested by Kuwait police, without a fight.
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